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Dear White Peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace
Dear White Peacemakers is a breakup letter to division, a love letter to God's beloved community, and an eviction notice to the violent powers that have sustained racism for centuries.
Race is one of the hardest topics to discuss in America. Many white Christians avoid talking about it altogether. But a commitment to peacemaking requires white people to step out of their comfort and privilege and into the work of anti-racism. Dear White Peacemakers is an invitation to white Christians to come to the table and join this hard work and holy calling. Rooted in the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus, this book is a challenging call to transform white shame, fragility, saviorism, and privilege, in order to work together to build the Beloved Community as anti-racism peacemakers.
Written in the wake of George Floyd's death, Dear White Peacemakers draws on the Sermon on the Mount, Spirituals, and personal stories from author Osheta Moore's work as a pastor in St. Paul, Minnesota. Enter into this story of shalom and join in the urgent work of anti-racism peacemaking.
Race is one of the hardest topics to discuss in America. Many white Christians avoid talking about it altogether. But a commitment to peacemaking requires white people to step out of their comfort and privilege and into the work of anti-racism. Dear White Peacemakers is an invitation to white Christians to come to the table and join this hard work and holy calling. Rooted in the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus, this book is a challenging call to transform white shame, fragility, saviorism, and privilege, in order to work together to build the Beloved Community as anti-racism peacemakers.
Written in the wake of George Floyd's death, Dear White Peacemakers draws on the Sermon on the Mount, Spirituals, and personal stories from author Osheta Moore's work as a pastor in St. Paul, Minnesota. Enter into this story of shalom and join in the urgent work of anti-racism peacemaking.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
207 people are currently reading
3678 people want to read
About the author
Osheta Moore
2 books72 followersOsheta Moore is a writer and podcaster in Los Angeles, as well as wife to an urban pastor, mother of three, and economic justice advocate for women in developing countries. Moore has consistently been a voice for peacemaking, justice, and racial reconciliation. Her work has been featured on numerous websites and blogs, including Sojourners, SheLoves Magazine, A Deeper Story, The Art of Simple, ReKnew, and Rachel Held Evans’ blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
December 1, 2021
December 2021:
This is the second time this year I’ve read through Moore’s antiracism book, and I feel like I got just as much from it this time around. Reading through it with a group was valuable, and having her voice in my head as she speaks with the Spirit has helped me love & parent & protest with grit and grace. Seeing the humanity & the image of God in others and telling better stories about people I don’t understand is difficult work but has been an invaluable practice.
I can’t recommend this enough, and especially if you are a Christian, this needs to be on your short list. Moore has given us a gift, & I don’t intend to waste it.
March 2021:
I’ve been doing anti-racism learning/unlearning/reading pretty consistently for the last 2.5 years, and I felt myself growing more closed off, less interested in conversation if it wasn’t with people who were already at my level or beyond, the grace I was offered when I first began this education had fully left me, and I could tell I was becoming a harsher, more cynical version of myself, and though I knew I didn’t like it, I could not pinpoint why it was happening.
Enter Osheta.
It may sound dramatic to say it, but this book has re-focused my life. As I was reading one day I turned to my husband and said, “There is no Jesus in my anti-racism work.” It was an epiphany. Jesus & my Christian faith are (re: should be) central to who I am. But aside from knowing 100% Jesus would be “on my side,” this anti-racism aspect that had become huge in my life completely disregarded that faith aspect. How did that happen? How could I know that Jesus & I would have the same goals & yet be acting nothing like him in order to achieve them?
Osheta tells us we need to engage with each other’s stories with “curiosity and mercy.” (I’ve said that phrase out loud to myself dozens of times since I’ve read it, and it’s still blowing my mind.) She says that we have to start with Belovedness as our base. That we must know and own our Belovedness, and that must then overflow into the Belovedness of everyone else. I had entrenched myself in fear, & my fragility had me putting up walls everywhere, and Osheta calmly, kindly, but forcefully, reminded me that to put up those walls is in direct opposition to what Jesus would do. We must approach this important, Godly work with equal parts Grit & Grace. Too far in either direction, and we cannot effectively be the Peacemakers we are called to be.
I know this is a book I will return to over and over again. And I know this has rejuvenated in me that which I had lost. I am so grateful to Osheta for giving this to us, and I highly encourage all white people, but especially white Christians, to read her work.
This is the second time this year I’ve read through Moore’s antiracism book, and I feel like I got just as much from it this time around. Reading through it with a group was valuable, and having her voice in my head as she speaks with the Spirit has helped me love & parent & protest with grit and grace. Seeing the humanity & the image of God in others and telling better stories about people I don’t understand is difficult work but has been an invaluable practice.
I can’t recommend this enough, and especially if you are a Christian, this needs to be on your short list. Moore has given us a gift, & I don’t intend to waste it.
March 2021:
I’ve been doing anti-racism learning/unlearning/reading pretty consistently for the last 2.5 years, and I felt myself growing more closed off, less interested in conversation if it wasn’t with people who were already at my level or beyond, the grace I was offered when I first began this education had fully left me, and I could tell I was becoming a harsher, more cynical version of myself, and though I knew I didn’t like it, I could not pinpoint why it was happening.
Enter Osheta.
It may sound dramatic to say it, but this book has re-focused my life. As I was reading one day I turned to my husband and said, “There is no Jesus in my anti-racism work.” It was an epiphany. Jesus & my Christian faith are (re: should be) central to who I am. But aside from knowing 100% Jesus would be “on my side,” this anti-racism aspect that had become huge in my life completely disregarded that faith aspect. How did that happen? How could I know that Jesus & I would have the same goals & yet be acting nothing like him in order to achieve them?
Osheta tells us we need to engage with each other’s stories with “curiosity and mercy.” (I’ve said that phrase out loud to myself dozens of times since I’ve read it, and it’s still blowing my mind.) She says that we have to start with Belovedness as our base. That we must know and own our Belovedness, and that must then overflow into the Belovedness of everyone else. I had entrenched myself in fear, & my fragility had me putting up walls everywhere, and Osheta calmly, kindly, but forcefully, reminded me that to put up those walls is in direct opposition to what Jesus would do. We must approach this important, Godly work with equal parts Grit & Grace. Too far in either direction, and we cannot effectively be the Peacemakers we are called to be.
I know this is a book I will return to over and over again. And I know this has rejuvenated in me that which I had lost. I am so grateful to Osheta for giving this to us, and I highly encourage all white people, but especially white Christians, to read her work.
May 18, 2021
I loved this book SO much, and I’m so grateful I got to read an early copy. This is Osheta’s love letter to White Peacemakers, those of us who want to work towards an anti-racist world but may be unsure of our place in the work. Her words are gracious but honest, gentle and hard-hitting. She frames everything she teaches in here through the lens of Jesus and how He was the ultimate peacemaker. I wish we could all be filled with as much empathy and courage as she is, and I know I will be reading this one again.
April 10, 2021
This book is important. In our politics, in our relationships, in the ways we treat those we consider “other,” there’s got to be a third way besides “us or them.” What if we approached each other—all of us, those we agree with and those we can’t understand or fiercely disagree with, and even those who are our “enemies” as beloved and loved by and made in the image of God? Osheta Moore’s commitment to being a peacemaker and living and showing shalom is the real deal and she has modeled grace and love in a sacrificial way. Dear White Peacemakers is an extension of that grace as she speaks hard truths with love to us.
April 21, 2021
I was deeply impacted by this book. Author Osheta Moore writes with both incredible strength and immense gentleness. I am the primary audience for this book- I'm a white woman, churched, who has realized that racism is a huge problem in America, and I want to help solve this problem, but I realize that I'm naively stepping into a fraught situation hundreds of years in the making. (Sound familiar?)
Moore has the heart of a true pastor (she *is*, in fact, a pastor). With striking candor and remarkable patience, she guides White readers through the teachings of Jesus- specifically the sermon on the mount- and her own experiences as a Black woman and mother with an eye toward creating "peacemakers" in the struggle for racial reconciliation.
This is a religious book in that it references the historic Jesus and his teachings as found in the gospels. It does *not*, however, reference the white evangelical church (some will see that as a blessing, while others may consider it a glaring oversight). I appreciated the reprieve, as I find the white evangelical church problematic, at best, and antithetical to the teachings of Christ, at worst. I was deeply impacted by this book and will take its lessons with me as I continue my journey to becoming a better ally. Definitely recommend to every White peacemaker!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to provide. I'm so grateful to #NetGalley, author Osheta Moore, and publisher Herald Press. #DearWhitePeacemakers
Moore has the heart of a true pastor (she *is*, in fact, a pastor). With striking candor and remarkable patience, she guides White readers through the teachings of Jesus- specifically the sermon on the mount- and her own experiences as a Black woman and mother with an eye toward creating "peacemakers" in the struggle for racial reconciliation.
This is a religious book in that it references the historic Jesus and his teachings as found in the gospels. It does *not*, however, reference the white evangelical church (some will see that as a blessing, while others may consider it a glaring oversight). I appreciated the reprieve, as I find the white evangelical church problematic, at best, and antithetical to the teachings of Christ, at worst. I was deeply impacted by this book and will take its lessons with me as I continue my journey to becoming a better ally. Definitely recommend to every White peacemaker!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to provide. I'm so grateful to #NetGalley, author Osheta Moore, and publisher Herald Press. #DearWhitePeacemakers
May 18, 2021
Osheta’s voice in this amazing book is generous and oriented towards peace making, which feels unique in the Christian anti-racist landscape. I have been so encouraged by the way that Osheta’s stories, experiences and meditations have fostered and expanded conversations about race and identity that continue to be of central importance in America.
Osheta pulls together many components in this book, addressing White Peacemakers (her central audience) with letters at the start of each chapter, and following these empathic addresses with further exploration of our shared American national history surrounding race, and the impact this history has on our current lives, regardless of our racial backgrounds. She promises early in the book that, “we’re also going to be honest, breathtakingly honest, about the ways the knee of white supremacy has been on both our necks for centuries.” Many of Osheta’s stories of race in America are familiar for those who have been reading recent texts about race and identity, but I believe that this book is accessible to readers who might not be reading those other books, and either way the stories need to be told again and again, lest we forget.
Dear White Peacemakers stands out because of Osheta’s commitment to pursuing shalom, as well as the ways that she weaves that idea of the Beloved Community throughout her story. In the beginning she tells the reader, “White is not the standard. Human is the standard. Beloved is the standard. Made in the image of God is the standard.” She joins the voices of Jesus in the Bible, Martin Luther King Jr, Henri Nouwen and others, to center a discussion of Belovedness in the context of this current moment, allowing us a glimpse of what is possible: “Belovedness is like a flowing river of renewal and justice. It allows us to challenge systems and have difficult conversations. It moves us from individualism into community.” While she graciously allows for White Peacemakers to grow through mistakes and imperfections, calling us to grieve and listen, she sets the bar high for all of us, writing, “If we believe God’s shalom is wholeheartedness in a broken world, then we must be wholeheartedly for justice.” I am thankful for this book, for the space it allowed me to reflect and learn, and I look forward to returning to it in the years to come.
Osheta pulls together many components in this book, addressing White Peacemakers (her central audience) with letters at the start of each chapter, and following these empathic addresses with further exploration of our shared American national history surrounding race, and the impact this history has on our current lives, regardless of our racial backgrounds. She promises early in the book that, “we’re also going to be honest, breathtakingly honest, about the ways the knee of white supremacy has been on both our necks for centuries.” Many of Osheta’s stories of race in America are familiar for those who have been reading recent texts about race and identity, but I believe that this book is accessible to readers who might not be reading those other books, and either way the stories need to be told again and again, lest we forget.
Dear White Peacemakers stands out because of Osheta’s commitment to pursuing shalom, as well as the ways that she weaves that idea of the Beloved Community throughout her story. In the beginning she tells the reader, “White is not the standard. Human is the standard. Beloved is the standard. Made in the image of God is the standard.” She joins the voices of Jesus in the Bible, Martin Luther King Jr, Henri Nouwen and others, to center a discussion of Belovedness in the context of this current moment, allowing us a glimpse of what is possible: “Belovedness is like a flowing river of renewal and justice. It allows us to challenge systems and have difficult conversations. It moves us from individualism into community.” While she graciously allows for White Peacemakers to grow through mistakes and imperfections, calling us to grieve and listen, she sets the bar high for all of us, writing, “If we believe God’s shalom is wholeheartedness in a broken world, then we must be wholeheartedly for justice.” I am thankful for this book, for the space it allowed me to reflect and learn, and I look forward to returning to it in the years to come.
May 26, 2021
I discovered Osheta Moore last year and have become a huge fan of her writing and the things she shares. She selflessly educates with a heart for Christ and His love for people. When I saw this book was being released I gladly picked up a review copy and I was not disappointed.
There is real, God-breathed writing here. Ms. Moore's heart is that of a pastor, I believe she is truly gifted and called in that arena. If you are a white person committed to learning about racial justice and dismantling your white supremacy, and you claim Jesus as Savior, you need to have Jesus at the core of your learning and she gently and firmly points readers in that direction.
This book will help readers to learn about the background and practice of anti-racism and how it can be incorporated into daily life. This is a challenging and yes, confrontational at times, book, but it is powerful and impactful. A must-read for anyone committed to making and being a part of change.
“If we believe God’s shalom is wholeheartedness in a broken world, then we must be wholeheartedly for justice.”
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
There is real, God-breathed writing here. Ms. Moore's heart is that of a pastor, I believe she is truly gifted and called in that arena. If you are a white person committed to learning about racial justice and dismantling your white supremacy, and you claim Jesus as Savior, you need to have Jesus at the core of your learning and she gently and firmly points readers in that direction.
This book will help readers to learn about the background and practice of anti-racism and how it can be incorporated into daily life. This is a challenging and yes, confrontational at times, book, but it is powerful and impactful. A must-read for anyone committed to making and being a part of change.
“If we believe God’s shalom is wholeheartedness in a broken world, then we must be wholeheartedly for justice.”
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
April 18, 2021
“Dear White Peacemakers” is an invitation to peacemaking for White people, in particular people of Christian faith, from a Black pastor. Moore weaves different genres through the book -- letters, personal narratives, biblical perspective, spirituals, last words, breath prayers, Scripture -- in order to share her heart for anti-racism peacemaking.
Don’t let the word “peace” in the title mislead you. Moore is vulnerable about how difficult it is to be Black in America, and her vulnerability invites the reader’s own vulnerability. She challenges White readers’ assumptions, encourages our reflection on the impact of racism, and roots all her words in Scripture. She isn’t talking about peacekeeping, but peacemaking; she invites White readers into difficult conversations about racism not to “be divisive” but “to grow in intimacy” as a Beloved community. As Moore writes, “This is our work together, White Peacemaker: to reclaim humanity for both of us and create a counterculture that actively exposes and resists the violence of white supremacy culture.”
If you are new to reading about anti-racism, this book would be a good introduction, along the lines of “So you want to talk about racism?” by Ijeoma Oluo. It has a faith-based framework for anti-racism work, like “Be the Bridge” by Latasha Morrison. And it is honest about the experience of being Black in America; in that way, it reminded me of “The Skin We’re In” by Desmond Cole (which focuses on the Canadian context).
So many parts of this book stay with me, but if I were to choose one thing, it’s this: “Trusting God for our daily bread here can mean that each day we’re open to whatever invitation to dismantle racism God places before us.” I’m grateful to Osheta Moore for teaching me that engagin in the work of anti-racism needs to be a daily practice.
Don’t let the word “peace” in the title mislead you. Moore is vulnerable about how difficult it is to be Black in America, and her vulnerability invites the reader’s own vulnerability. She challenges White readers’ assumptions, encourages our reflection on the impact of racism, and roots all her words in Scripture. She isn’t talking about peacekeeping, but peacemaking; she invites White readers into difficult conversations about racism not to “be divisive” but “to grow in intimacy” as a Beloved community. As Moore writes, “This is our work together, White Peacemaker: to reclaim humanity for both of us and create a counterculture that actively exposes and resists the violence of white supremacy culture.”
If you are new to reading about anti-racism, this book would be a good introduction, along the lines of “So you want to talk about racism?” by Ijeoma Oluo. It has a faith-based framework for anti-racism work, like “Be the Bridge” by Latasha Morrison. And it is honest about the experience of being Black in America; in that way, it reminded me of “The Skin We’re In” by Desmond Cole (which focuses on the Canadian context).
So many parts of this book stay with me, but if I were to choose one thing, it’s this: “Trusting God for our daily bread here can mean that each day we’re open to whatever invitation to dismantle racism God places before us.” I’m grateful to Osheta Moore for teaching me that engagin in the work of anti-racism needs to be a daily practice.
April 20, 2021
Dear White Peacemakers is an intimate conversation about hard topics with a favorite friend. Osheta Moore writes her latest book in a way that makes the reader feel connected to her and this approach serves her purpose well. Topics like Black suffering, White supremacy, and Peacemaking can be difficult to communicate without a trusted relationship in place to hold the weight. Moore’s writing builds a bridge between herself and her reader that is strong enough to bear the gravity of the pain attached to these issues.
The book is structured around four spirituals, a choice I as a music major especially enjoyed. The origin and significance of each song is shared, serving as guideposts for the journey the author takes with the reader. The meat of the book is Moore’s honest disclosure of her own path toward antiracist peacemaking. Her granting the reader access to vulnerable, sometimes painful moments in her life is what facilitates the feeling of a close friendship between reader and author. Moore manages to make the reader feel as if they know her while simultaneously making the reader feel understood. This is what’s almost magical about Dear White Peacemakers: after reading it, it feels like I’ve joined Osheta’s community and that together with kindness, bravery, gentleness, and authentic grace, that community can actually make progress toward Peacemaking.
As I read Dear White Peacemakers, I kept thinking of the many White Evangelical (the branch of Christianity in which I was raised) friends in my circle who are quite resistant to acknowledging the realities of systemic racism and White privilege. This book could very well be the book to reach that group of people and help them begin their own journeys as White Peacemakers. Moore’s ability to call out the Belovedness of all human beings, to remind the reader that all people are image-bearers loved by Creator God, and to communicate how our well-being is entwined with one another creates an unassailable foundation upon which to build.
You who feel disheartened by racism and inequality: this book is for you. You who are overwhelmed with the vastness of the problems of empire and oppression: this book is for you. You who struggle to see or understand what it’s like to live in a Black body: this book is for you. You who have no idea where to begin or what to do: this book is for you. Dear White Peacemakers is an invaluable missive from an amazing Black Woman that will undoubtably mobilize many toward Peacemaking, so get a cup of coffee and join the conversation.
The book is structured around four spirituals, a choice I as a music major especially enjoyed. The origin and significance of each song is shared, serving as guideposts for the journey the author takes with the reader. The meat of the book is Moore’s honest disclosure of her own path toward antiracist peacemaking. Her granting the reader access to vulnerable, sometimes painful moments in her life is what facilitates the feeling of a close friendship between reader and author. Moore manages to make the reader feel as if they know her while simultaneously making the reader feel understood. This is what’s almost magical about Dear White Peacemakers: after reading it, it feels like I’ve joined Osheta’s community and that together with kindness, bravery, gentleness, and authentic grace, that community can actually make progress toward Peacemaking.
As I read Dear White Peacemakers, I kept thinking of the many White Evangelical (the branch of Christianity in which I was raised) friends in my circle who are quite resistant to acknowledging the realities of systemic racism and White privilege. This book could very well be the book to reach that group of people and help them begin their own journeys as White Peacemakers. Moore’s ability to call out the Belovedness of all human beings, to remind the reader that all people are image-bearers loved by Creator God, and to communicate how our well-being is entwined with one another creates an unassailable foundation upon which to build.
You who feel disheartened by racism and inequality: this book is for you. You who are overwhelmed with the vastness of the problems of empire and oppression: this book is for you. You who struggle to see or understand what it’s like to live in a Black body: this book is for you. You who have no idea where to begin or what to do: this book is for you. Dear White Peacemakers is an invaluable missive from an amazing Black Woman that will undoubtably mobilize many toward Peacemaking, so get a cup of coffee and join the conversation.
April 12, 2021
Where to begin with this beautiful book? I usually fly through my reading to get on to the next thing, but from the very opening page I knew that I wanted to sit and savor every word. I knew that I had a holy and timely book in my hand.
I decided to create a space in my days to sit with Dear White Peacemakers, my journal, a cup of coffee and an open heart - a space to learn from Osheta’s wisdom, grace, incredible openness and vulnerability. From the very beginning of the book we are invited in such a loving way to sit with the author (and Jesus!) to experience a new way of joining together in the process of deep healing, reconciliation and truth telling/receiving - as we work to dismantle white supremacy culture in our own hearts and in our communities.
A few beautiful “extra” things that were so impactful to me include the following:
The structure of the book includes 4 parts divided by different spirituals. I’m a musician and the way that this added to the tone of each section for me was deeply moving.
The breath prayers at the end of each chapter. (I am breathing more slowly and intentionally just writing those words! Haha!) A scripture verse followed by what Osheta describes as these two parts: a name for God that is meaningful and a request from God for the moment. I wrote these down after finishing each chapter and right now my fridge is covered in them.
The personal stories from Osheta. This is not a dry book that makes us feel defeated before we even begin- it’s full of life and love, joys and sorrows. Real triumphs and lows and encouragements to keep looking to Jesus for answers, strength, purpose and direction in real every day peacemaking work.
I will be returning to this book again and again. When I’m feeling tired and discouraged in this anti-racism work. When feeling ill equipped, Osheta is here as a guide to get us back on track and working to fight to dismantle white supremacy.
Thank you to Herald press and net galley for my advanced copy.
I decided to create a space in my days to sit with Dear White Peacemakers, my journal, a cup of coffee and an open heart - a space to learn from Osheta’s wisdom, grace, incredible openness and vulnerability. From the very beginning of the book we are invited in such a loving way to sit with the author (and Jesus!) to experience a new way of joining together in the process of deep healing, reconciliation and truth telling/receiving - as we work to dismantle white supremacy culture in our own hearts and in our communities.
A few beautiful “extra” things that were so impactful to me include the following:
The structure of the book includes 4 parts divided by different spirituals. I’m a musician and the way that this added to the tone of each section for me was deeply moving.
The breath prayers at the end of each chapter. (I am breathing more slowly and intentionally just writing those words! Haha!) A scripture verse followed by what Osheta describes as these two parts: a name for God that is meaningful and a request from God for the moment. I wrote these down after finishing each chapter and right now my fridge is covered in them.
The personal stories from Osheta. This is not a dry book that makes us feel defeated before we even begin- it’s full of life and love, joys and sorrows. Real triumphs and lows and encouragements to keep looking to Jesus for answers, strength, purpose and direction in real every day peacemaking work.
I will be returning to this book again and again. When I’m feeling tired and discouraged in this anti-racism work. When feeling ill equipped, Osheta is here as a guide to get us back on track and working to fight to dismantle white supremacy.
Thank you to Herald press and net galley for my advanced copy.
April 8, 2021
The timeliness of my opportunity to read this book (an advanced copy, TYSM) is such a sweet gift from Jesus who loves me. I’d just accepted a volunteer role to co-lead a Bridge Builders group at my workplace (a large Christian org that is, sadly, early on the journey of un-learning white supremacy). I was feeling very apprehensive about my ability to be a safe person to help other white people grow (even though I’m still a “baby” on the journey myself 🤦🏼♀️) but Osheta’s grit and grace approach gave me a vision (and help) for how I might extend loving challenges to people around me.
A few of my favorite pieces of this book are:
Osheta’s heart — I’d long been drawn in by Osheta’s choice to just LOVE her white sisters and brothers. She creates a safe place for us to come learn, to come hear truth spoken in love, and be invited to grow.
Osheta’s voice — She is hilarious and humble and creative as she tells stories, shares spirituals and breath prayers, and puts her heart on full display. It was truly an enjoyable read, as heavy as much of the content is. Heavy yet so, so hopeful. And what a gift in today’s climate.
Osheta’s vision — Glorious. Because, well, it’s from the Bible. It’s from Jesus’ words and heart displayed in His Word.
Christians, please read this book. Non-Christians? Read this book, too! Come read a “credible witness” for who Jesus really is and what His kingdom is all about.
Finally, THANK YOU OSHETA for writing this book! It’s a gift to me and to the Church in the USA.
A few of my favorite pieces of this book are:
Osheta’s heart — I’d long been drawn in by Osheta’s choice to just LOVE her white sisters and brothers. She creates a safe place for us to come learn, to come hear truth spoken in love, and be invited to grow.
Osheta’s voice — She is hilarious and humble and creative as she tells stories, shares spirituals and breath prayers, and puts her heart on full display. It was truly an enjoyable read, as heavy as much of the content is. Heavy yet so, so hopeful. And what a gift in today’s climate.
Osheta’s vision — Glorious. Because, well, it’s from the Bible. It’s from Jesus’ words and heart displayed in His Word.
Christians, please read this book. Non-Christians? Read this book, too! Come read a “credible witness” for who Jesus really is and what His kingdom is all about.
Finally, THANK YOU OSHETA for writing this book! It’s a gift to me and to the Church in the USA.
April 15, 2021
"At this table, you are seen as Beloved and your curiosity is honored. At this table, I'll be patient and won't patronize you."
Osheta gives us, over and over again, an example of (and instruction toward) what love looks like in the work of dismantling white supremacy in ourselves and in our culture. She doesn't shy away from anger but refuses to dehumanize anyone.
I was challenged, in a way I've not been challenged by other books, to do the work infused with love--not niceness--but a love that speaks truth, and calls BS, and stands up for justice while recognizing the belovedness in everyone. I was called into deeper discipleship, into costly love, into sacrifice. I'm still wrestling with what this could and will look like in my life.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to engage in the work of anti-racism but doesn't know where to start, who is willing to let love confront them with uncomfortable realities, who is willing to take the next step but doesn't know what that next step is, and who is willing to sacrifice to love well.
Also, pastors, I recommend this book as a book that will help you lead your congregation in the deep work of reconciliation no matter where your congregation falls on the spectrum of willingness to engage.
Osheta gives us, over and over again, an example of (and instruction toward) what love looks like in the work of dismantling white supremacy in ourselves and in our culture. She doesn't shy away from anger but refuses to dehumanize anyone.
I was challenged, in a way I've not been challenged by other books, to do the work infused with love--not niceness--but a love that speaks truth, and calls BS, and stands up for justice while recognizing the belovedness in everyone. I was called into deeper discipleship, into costly love, into sacrifice. I'm still wrestling with what this could and will look like in my life.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to engage in the work of anti-racism but doesn't know where to start, who is willing to let love confront them with uncomfortable realities, who is willing to take the next step but doesn't know what that next step is, and who is willing to sacrifice to love well.
Also, pastors, I recommend this book as a book that will help you lead your congregation in the deep work of reconciliation no matter where your congregation falls on the spectrum of willingness to engage.
March 30, 2021
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an incredible book.
While it's written to white people (which Moore chooses to capitalize throughout the book and explains why) and I'm not white, I found this to be a great book for anyone wanting to be a better ally.
Moore shares what she sees as the third option for handling conflict- she blends her Christian faith and her experience as a Black woman and mother. She shares the anecdotes and experiences that drove her to writing this book and other steps she has taken to invite those of us who are not Black to understand her life and perspective and truly do the work of anti-racism.
It's a thoughtful and provocative read. Especially for those who have grown up with a religious upbringing many of these texts are familiar and Moore's breakdown of them is so solid and captivating.
A great read for anyone who wants to do the work and live in a way that is anti-racist and faith driven.
This is an incredible book.
While it's written to white people (which Moore chooses to capitalize throughout the book and explains why) and I'm not white, I found this to be a great book for anyone wanting to be a better ally.
Moore shares what she sees as the third option for handling conflict- she blends her Christian faith and her experience as a Black woman and mother. She shares the anecdotes and experiences that drove her to writing this book and other steps she has taken to invite those of us who are not Black to understand her life and perspective and truly do the work of anti-racism.
It's a thoughtful and provocative read. Especially for those who have grown up with a religious upbringing many of these texts are familiar and Moore's breakdown of them is so solid and captivating.
A great read for anyone who wants to do the work and live in a way that is anti-racist and faith driven.
April 18, 2021
Somehow Osheta hits the reader with the real darkness of white supremacy without leaving us (white people) ashamed, defensive, or powerless. In fact, each page left me feeling beloved and confident. While many books on race have filled me with knowledge about the depth, complexity, and wickedness of racism, and of white supremacy, "Dear White Peacemakers" is the first book that has filled me with hope. If you hope for racial reconciliation and holistic restoration, get Osheta's book. If you hunger for a path toward meaningful racial peace and kingdom shalom, buy Osheta's book.
April 16, 2021
This was the book I did not know I needed to read! Just a few pages in, I was able to take a deep breath and truly enjoy the way Osheta writes and the love she has for White Peacemakers that leapt off the pages. I felt my heart open even more to the words and truth written in this book and know that I will be in a better place on my anti-racism journey because of Dear White Peacemakers. Osheta has so much grace and gentleness in her words yet she does not back down from saying what needs to be said.
Dear White Peacemakers starts with that ALL of us are Beloved. All of us are healing from our wounds and lies we have been told about ourselves. To truly be an anti-racist peacemaker, I need to start from a place of Belovedness - loving myself and acknowledging my own brokenness and that God loves me right where I am. Osheta calls out racism as a principality and power of this world that needs to be resisted. And she also shares countless examples - some her own stories, some the stories of others - of why it is so important to be on this journey even if you make mistakes along the way.
I am a musician and truly loved the 4 sections of the book that were based around Spirituals. Additionally, Osheta has a breath prayer at the conclusion of every chapter so you can take time to reflect, pray, and sit in the presence of God in stillness or contemplation. I found this book appealed to many things that I enjoy - personal stories, the use of scripture, fun and personal antedotes about the author, and so many brilliant and beautiful words that I needed to use two colors of highlighter as I read!
I have read many books on anti-racism and have been on this journey for several years. Dear White Peacemakers is the kind of book that I believe would speak to anyone on their anti-racism journey, no matter if they started today or have been studying and learning for years. This would be a fantastic book for a book club, Bible study, or a discussion of people interested in anti-racism from a Christian perspective. I highly recommend this book and plan to gift it to several people!
Dear White Peacemakers starts with that ALL of us are Beloved. All of us are healing from our wounds and lies we have been told about ourselves. To truly be an anti-racist peacemaker, I need to start from a place of Belovedness - loving myself and acknowledging my own brokenness and that God loves me right where I am. Osheta calls out racism as a principality and power of this world that needs to be resisted. And she also shares countless examples - some her own stories, some the stories of others - of why it is so important to be on this journey even if you make mistakes along the way.
I am a musician and truly loved the 4 sections of the book that were based around Spirituals. Additionally, Osheta has a breath prayer at the conclusion of every chapter so you can take time to reflect, pray, and sit in the presence of God in stillness or contemplation. I found this book appealed to many things that I enjoy - personal stories, the use of scripture, fun and personal antedotes about the author, and so many brilliant and beautiful words that I needed to use two colors of highlighter as I read!
I have read many books on anti-racism and have been on this journey for several years. Dear White Peacemakers is the kind of book that I believe would speak to anyone on their anti-racism journey, no matter if they started today or have been studying and learning for years. This would be a fantastic book for a book club, Bible study, or a discussion of people interested in anti-racism from a Christian perspective. I highly recommend this book and plan to gift it to several people!
April 21, 2021
"What you are seeing in this moment, White Peacemaker, is not just a great racial reckoning, it is an invitation to grieve. To hold, to see, and to share in grief. To mourn with us as we mourn."
I had the privilege to read a copy of this book in advance of its publication. This book truly is an invitation--not just to mourn with the Black community--which we must, but to see and learn from all facets of their humanity, to help dismantle the white supremacy culture that hurts all of us. This is a deeply human book.
Osheta Moore writes from her perspective as a Black pastor working from a particular theological framework. She centers her anti-racism work around the Beloved Community. The title of this book comes from her invitation to White people--especially those of the Christian faith to engage in anti-racism work. She reminds us this work takes nuance, empathy and of course, both grit and grace. (She makes a distinction between "peacekeeping" and "peacemaking.")
It took grit and grace to write this book. I learned through following her on social media that this book was originally going to be more practical--like a "how-to." In the wake of George Floyd's murder, she changed her approach to become more personal and vulnerable. (This is not to say, it is not also practical, but she encourages her audience to change their way of seeing and being rather than just checking off a list.) She writes some sections as personal letters. She writes others as anecdotes that must be difficult to share (e.g. times she believes she has fallen short in her own peacemaking and personal stories of how she and her children have been affected by racism). She is always truthful and at the same time supportive and generous.
I feel like any review I write is inadequate since I really need to re-read this book. It's just so full. Osheta is a gracious teacher, and I am so grateful for her work and for this book.
I had the privilege to read a copy of this book in advance of its publication. This book truly is an invitation--not just to mourn with the Black community--which we must, but to see and learn from all facets of their humanity, to help dismantle the white supremacy culture that hurts all of us. This is a deeply human book.
Osheta Moore writes from her perspective as a Black pastor working from a particular theological framework. She centers her anti-racism work around the Beloved Community. The title of this book comes from her invitation to White people--especially those of the Christian faith to engage in anti-racism work. She reminds us this work takes nuance, empathy and of course, both grit and grace. (She makes a distinction between "peacekeeping" and "peacemaking.")
It took grit and grace to write this book. I learned through following her on social media that this book was originally going to be more practical--like a "how-to." In the wake of George Floyd's murder, she changed her approach to become more personal and vulnerable. (This is not to say, it is not also practical, but she encourages her audience to change their way of seeing and being rather than just checking off a list.) She writes some sections as personal letters. She writes others as anecdotes that must be difficult to share (e.g. times she believes she has fallen short in her own peacemaking and personal stories of how she and her children have been affected by racism). She is always truthful and at the same time supportive and generous.
I feel like any review I write is inadequate since I really need to re-read this book. It's just so full. Osheta is a gracious teacher, and I am so grateful for her work and for this book.
May 20, 2021
"White Peacemakers, your love is not fragile. Allow the love of God to ground you in your Belovedness and allow that love to inform how you receive guidance from the people of color in your life."
This is the heart of the book's message, I think. Osheta calls us to live from a place of such deep love that it colors everything, even the way we dismantle racism. The encouragement and hope is brimming in every paragraph.
That's not to say that White Peacemakers aren't held accountable for the harm they do intentionally or unintentionally. But the accountability is served with love. "Lean into the correction and know that while your mistake will have consequences, no matter what is required for repair, a few things remain; your inherent worth, your Belovedness, and your capacity to grow and do better next time."
For instance, listen to how she approaches the prickly topic of historical wrongs and our responsibility to know them: "...accepting blame is not a prerequisite for seeking righteousness.... Jesus the sinless, perfect one saw great injustice and said, "I'll go first. I'll do what I can to make it right."
Since our history keeps repeating itself and systemic racism doesn't dismantle itself, this kind of attitude seems not only Christlike but also extremely practical! We can get so much more done when we stop shifting blame to earlier generations or to people with more power and start making peace right here, right now. This book is the perfect guide for individuals and groups who are ready to embrace the power of Belovedness to abolish White supremacy and racism.
Thanks to Herald Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
This is the heart of the book's message, I think. Osheta calls us to live from a place of such deep love that it colors everything, even the way we dismantle racism. The encouragement and hope is brimming in every paragraph.
That's not to say that White Peacemakers aren't held accountable for the harm they do intentionally or unintentionally. But the accountability is served with love. "Lean into the correction and know that while your mistake will have consequences, no matter what is required for repair, a few things remain; your inherent worth, your Belovedness, and your capacity to grow and do better next time."
For instance, listen to how she approaches the prickly topic of historical wrongs and our responsibility to know them: "...accepting blame is not a prerequisite for seeking righteousness.... Jesus the sinless, perfect one saw great injustice and said, "I'll go first. I'll do what I can to make it right."
Since our history keeps repeating itself and systemic racism doesn't dismantle itself, this kind of attitude seems not only Christlike but also extremely practical! We can get so much more done when we stop shifting blame to earlier generations or to people with more power and start making peace right here, right now. This book is the perfect guide for individuals and groups who are ready to embrace the power of Belovedness to abolish White supremacy and racism.
Thanks to Herald Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
May 7, 2021
Pour a cup of your favorite beverage, settle in, and have a rich conversation with your new friend, Osheta Moore. “Dear White Peacemakers” is a call to dismantle racism and white supremacy from a deep well of knowing our belovedness and letting that belovedness abundantly overflow to others. And throughout the book, Osheta models both well. “Love is the reason we offer each other grace and dream of reconciliation, but love is also the reason we relentlessly pursue justice and equity. Both…with grit and grace.” Osheta speaks with honesty and grace, her approach deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus, inviting us into deeper spiritual formation along with her and to help create the Beloved Community.
This book is full of challenge, and I will be turning to it again and again. Osheta does not shy away from sharing hard truths, painful history, or difficult personal experiences about what it means to be Black in America. I am aware of how much I have yet to learn and do not understand. This is also a hopeful book that honors curiosity and continual learning rather than achieving elusive perfection. As someone who wants to be faithful on the journey to dismantle racism and seek shalom for all, I can exhale, knowing that it’s okay to make mistakes, to listen, to learn and to grow. No matter where you are on your journey towards anti-racism, whether you are curious, just beginning, or you have been at this a long time, I promise that Osheta’s book will be a valuable companion. I am so grateful for it and will be recommending it to everyone!
This book is full of challenge, and I will be turning to it again and again. Osheta does not shy away from sharing hard truths, painful history, or difficult personal experiences about what it means to be Black in America. I am aware of how much I have yet to learn and do not understand. This is also a hopeful book that honors curiosity and continual learning rather than achieving elusive perfection. As someone who wants to be faithful on the journey to dismantle racism and seek shalom for all, I can exhale, knowing that it’s okay to make mistakes, to listen, to learn and to grow. No matter where you are on your journey towards anti-racism, whether you are curious, just beginning, or you have been at this a long time, I promise that Osheta’s book will be a valuable companion. I am so grateful for it and will be recommending it to everyone!
April 19, 2021
Dear White Peacemakers is the best book I have read in a long while. And it’s not a book about bashing or condemning white people. Because this writer comes from a Christ perspective view. However, don’t think it’s an easy read. She doesn’t whitewash the pain and inhumanity that white privileged has caused on all colors of humanity. What she does is invite us to face history. She give us space to recognize how white is ingrained throughout it. It’s taking in and ruminating. It invokes checking our hearts. It’s challenging our thoughts. It’s mourning and forgiveness. It’s peacemaking. It’s food for thought.
She writes “It’s a call to all those with the temerity to believe in promise of peace because Jesus went first and secured that everlasting peace, shalom. Everything we do on this road of peacemaking is following in his legacy. We’re walking the road he paved for us. We bring the air of the Kingdom here with every prayer, every conversation, every protest; every moment we use our breath to dismantle racism, we are resisting the knee of white supremacy.”
For me there were times I had to put the book down cause my heart was breaking. And there were times I cried. And there were times I smiled and rejoiced. And most of all, there were times of just sitting and reflecting.
Yes, Peacemakers, we are all Beloved Children of God.
https://heraldpress.com/books/dear-wh...
#OshetaMoore #HeardPressbooks #DearWhitePeacemakers
She writes “It’s a call to all those with the temerity to believe in promise of peace because Jesus went first and secured that everlasting peace, shalom. Everything we do on this road of peacemaking is following in his legacy. We’re walking the road he paved for us. We bring the air of the Kingdom here with every prayer, every conversation, every protest; every moment we use our breath to dismantle racism, we are resisting the knee of white supremacy.”
For me there were times I had to put the book down cause my heart was breaking. And there were times I cried. And there were times I smiled and rejoiced. And most of all, there were times of just sitting and reflecting.
Yes, Peacemakers, we are all Beloved Children of God.
https://heraldpress.com/books/dear-wh...
#OshetaMoore #HeardPressbooks #DearWhitePeacemakers
April 21, 2021
This book is a gift from Osheta Moore, beginning with an invitation to: “Let us agree to be boldly, lovingly honest. Let us be fully human, fully empathic, and fully committed to our collective shalom.” I began educating myself regarding my part in white supremacy systems by starting with reading and researching. In this book, Osheta writes that we all are beloved and invited me to learn how the “strive for justice and equity” is Jesus based.
The book includes letters to White Peacemakers along with breath prayers, which are beautiful and powerful. She shares her personal stories, as well as her experiences of the tragic deaths of black/brown people the last few years. These stories are deeply personal and hit me where it needed to, to open myself to the grief BIPOC experience. I felt like I was meeting with a friend to discuss my work, who loves me and recognizes my worth and potential, but points out when I misstep and miss the mark. She lovingly provides counsel.
I will definitely be re-reading this book as I want to make sure to absorb all the wisdom and shalom she offers in these pages, over and over again. I will also encourage family and friends to join me in reading this and to join me on this path.
The book includes letters to White Peacemakers along with breath prayers, which are beautiful and powerful. She shares her personal stories, as well as her experiences of the tragic deaths of black/brown people the last few years. These stories are deeply personal and hit me where it needed to, to open myself to the grief BIPOC experience. I felt like I was meeting with a friend to discuss my work, who loves me and recognizes my worth and potential, but points out when I misstep and miss the mark. She lovingly provides counsel.
I will definitely be re-reading this book as I want to make sure to absorb all the wisdom and shalom she offers in these pages, over and over again. I will also encourage family and friends to join me in reading this and to join me on this path.
April 24, 2021
I was privileged to read an advance copy of Osheta Moore’s Dear White Peacemakers. Osheta’s anti-racism book has given me a lot to think about and I plan to read it again soon. Dear White Peacemakers is written to white followers of Jesus who desire to see justice and Shalom- true peace- brought to our world. The book is based on the kingdom teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, with letters from the author’s heart and reflections on Spiritual songs woven throughout. Osheta shares her own experiences honestly and makes room for there to be many ways to do the work of anti-racism. She begins not by calling us racist, but Beloved, and how that is our starting point. This book is for anyone who cares about change but feels ashamed and afraid. “An anti-racism peacemaker, then, is a person who actively works toward a holistic restoration of the interpersonal and systemic effects of white supremacy through nonviolence and empathy. It’s a way of doing this work that holds in tension systemic change and relational unity—grit and grace.”
March 22, 2021
I’m halfway through this incredible book and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s truthful, compassionate, challenging and full of hope. If you desire to become a peacemaker, an ally, to live more fully in the Kingdom of God, this is a must read. Understanding the affects of racism and white supremacy and dismantling those systems takes work, and in Osheta’s words it takes “grit and grace.” This book is an invitation for us to be formed into who we are meant to be and how we are meant to live together.
March 23, 2021
This is exactly the book that is needed in this day and age. Osheta speaks truths about race, Christianity, and culture in a way that is profoundly relevant, gentle, and yet firm. She invites readers on the journey with her and makes space for anyone who is working on anti-racism and peacemaking, no matter what point they are at on their own journeys. In this book Osheta acts as teacher, pastor, guide, and friend. I’ve read the advance copy through once and am going back over it to write out some quotes and other things that stood out to me. Absolutely a fantastic read!
May 18, 2021
“We should remember that the work of dismantling racism is not only recognizing, repenting of, and repairing the damage done after four hundred years of oppression of Black and Brown people. Yes to all the above, and this work is a deeply interpersonal one that requires grace, nuance, kindness, and empathy. This is the work of healing a fractured relationship. … Let us agree to be boldly, lovingly honest. Let us be fully human, fully empathic, and fully committed to our collective shalom.”
I highlighted so many quotes from Dear White Peacemakers, but this one really embodies the book for me. Grit and grace are the heart of this book. Osheta does not shy away from describing her experiences with the horrors of racism and white supremacy, but she is generous with White people (I’m capitalizing as Osheta does throughout her book) who are ready to learn—it struck me at first as a radical approach, but Osheta is not being “nice,” but rather showing sacrificial love, grace, and honesty even for those who have hurt her deeply. The stories she tells throughout the book are deeply moving; you can see how much work she has done to get to this place in her faith and her antiracism journey.
Osheta doesn’t offer the usual list of things for White antiracists to do, but instead shows readers a way of approaching antiracism that centers what she calls the Beloved Community and healing the pain that white supremacy and systemic racism continues to inflict on Black Americans. Often, she calls White Peacemakers to sit with Black suffering rather than ignoring it or thinking we know how to fix it.
I’m still absorbing everything that I read in this book. It is powerful, painfully honest yet also incredibly generous. It’s a timely book for all White people, but especially those who consider themselves Christians. I will be thinking about Dear White Peacemakers for a long time to come.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
I highlighted so many quotes from Dear White Peacemakers, but this one really embodies the book for me. Grit and grace are the heart of this book. Osheta does not shy away from describing her experiences with the horrors of racism and white supremacy, but she is generous with White people (I’m capitalizing as Osheta does throughout her book) who are ready to learn—it struck me at first as a radical approach, but Osheta is not being “nice,” but rather showing sacrificial love, grace, and honesty even for those who have hurt her deeply. The stories she tells throughout the book are deeply moving; you can see how much work she has done to get to this place in her faith and her antiracism journey.
Osheta doesn’t offer the usual list of things for White antiracists to do, but instead shows readers a way of approaching antiracism that centers what she calls the Beloved Community and healing the pain that white supremacy and systemic racism continues to inflict on Black Americans. Often, she calls White Peacemakers to sit with Black suffering rather than ignoring it or thinking we know how to fix it.
I’m still absorbing everything that I read in this book. It is powerful, painfully honest yet also incredibly generous. It’s a timely book for all White people, but especially those who consider themselves Christians. I will be thinking about Dear White Peacemakers for a long time to come.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2021
“An anti-racism peacemaker...is a person who actively works toward a holistic restoration of the interpersonal and systemic effects of white supremacy through non-violence and empathy.” {a third way}
Beginning with a story straight from her first book Shalom Sistas, as I started reading, I knew this book was going to take me deeper into Osheta’s shalom and peacemaking journey, now intertwined with her anti-racism lens...and continue holding creative tension between the world that is and the world we long to see. Shalom, she writes, is God’s dream for the world as it should be.
Her opening letter to her readers is exactly as I’d expect: warm, inviting, fortified with humor and talk of good food for nourishment. But it doesn’t stop there. She quickly reminds us of what we are working towards (and working to dismantle to get there). This isn’t a feel good book. It does require grit {and grace} to work through.
Peacemaking isn’t all smoothed over and easy. The non-violent response doesn’t mean our hearts feel warm and fuzzy. Dismantling white supremacy takes perseverance, fierceness, a seat at the table of discomfort, and a whole lot of tension holding. You’ll find all of that here.
If you’re beginning or deeply in the middle of your anti-racism journey, this book is for you. If you’ve been holding tension between the church/faith community you belong to and your anti-racism journey, this book is for you. If peacemaking is a framework you want to learn more about and apply in your life, this book is for you. If non-violence with integrity and accountability is how you want to engage in the world, this book is for you.
Thank you so much to Osheta and her team for this early copy and opportunity to read and review. I’m excited for this unique book to launch into the world.
Beginning with a story straight from her first book Shalom Sistas, as I started reading, I knew this book was going to take me deeper into Osheta’s shalom and peacemaking journey, now intertwined with her anti-racism lens...and continue holding creative tension between the world that is and the world we long to see. Shalom, she writes, is God’s dream for the world as it should be.
Her opening letter to her readers is exactly as I’d expect: warm, inviting, fortified with humor and talk of good food for nourishment. But it doesn’t stop there. She quickly reminds us of what we are working towards (and working to dismantle to get there). This isn’t a feel good book. It does require grit {and grace} to work through.
Peacemaking isn’t all smoothed over and easy. The non-violent response doesn’t mean our hearts feel warm and fuzzy. Dismantling white supremacy takes perseverance, fierceness, a seat at the table of discomfort, and a whole lot of tension holding. You’ll find all of that here.
If you’re beginning or deeply in the middle of your anti-racism journey, this book is for you. If you’ve been holding tension between the church/faith community you belong to and your anti-racism journey, this book is for you. If peacemaking is a framework you want to learn more about and apply in your life, this book is for you. If non-violence with integrity and accountability is how you want to engage in the world, this book is for you.
Thank you so much to Osheta and her team for this early copy and opportunity to read and review. I’m excited for this unique book to launch into the world.
April 5, 2021
I just finished this incredible work of heart. While this initial "helping" at the table is done, I'm certainly going back for seconds (and thirds...) But only once I've been able to digest this first helping a bit.
Osheta welcomed us to the table while pouring out dish after dish of love, joy, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, kindness, self-control, peace...as well as grace and mercy. Her willingness to offer up the fruit of the spirit to me (to us) is quite undeserved...she did not have to do any of this: to help me understand more of what it looks like to be an anti-racist peacemaker, to let us into her life...into some of the most vulnerable areas of her life, at that.
I pray that I will continue to be pushed out of my "comfort zone" and into this most noble fight not just with my words, but with my actions...because it's not enough to just talk the talk, but to walk the walk. I still have quite a large amount of work to do, with many things to unlearn and relearn and a great deal of heart-work through the mistakes I've made and will continue to make. I pray that the love of Jesus is shown each day and that I remember, as Osheta has reminded me, that each and every person bears the Imago Dei and is loved by their Creator.
Thank you for writing this book, Osheta. You are loved and I'm so thankful for you.
Osheta welcomed us to the table while pouring out dish after dish of love, joy, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, kindness, self-control, peace...as well as grace and mercy. Her willingness to offer up the fruit of the spirit to me (to us) is quite undeserved...she did not have to do any of this: to help me understand more of what it looks like to be an anti-racist peacemaker, to let us into her life...into some of the most vulnerable areas of her life, at that.
I pray that I will continue to be pushed out of my "comfort zone" and into this most noble fight not just with my words, but with my actions...because it's not enough to just talk the talk, but to walk the walk. I still have quite a large amount of work to do, with many things to unlearn and relearn and a great deal of heart-work through the mistakes I've made and will continue to make. I pray that the love of Jesus is shown each day and that I remember, as Osheta has reminded me, that each and every person bears the Imago Dei and is loved by their Creator.
Thank you for writing this book, Osheta. You are loved and I'm so thankful for you.
May 18, 2021
This book is a gift of love. A gift that no doubt came at a cost of tears, exhaustion, time, pain and hard-won love. Osheta Moore’s grace and love filled wisdom, teaching and storytelling wrap around you like a soft cardigan and a warm drink. But, it is not all cozy and comfortable, much like someone might make you a cup of tea to begin a hard conversation or break some hard news, Osheta’s love comes with plenty of truth. And truth hurts. Osheta is not here to sugar coat the truth, or spare you all the pain, or placate you and leave you as you were. She is here to pour the tea, but dish up the truth with it. Moore, uses both grit and grace to open your eyes to Black pain, Black joy, Black courage, Black love, the Black experience and the cruelty and violence that is the system of white supremacy. A cruel system that robs and kills and binds all of us in ways seen and unseen. But through it all, she is there always pointing us all to the Beloved community and God’s shalom.
Yes, you should read this book, and yes, you can gift this to a White friend or relative you often disagree with online. Shalom is for everyone
Yes, you should read this book, and yes, you can gift this to a White friend or relative you often disagree with online. Shalom is for everyone
April 19, 2021
I highly recommend this book! Osheta's writing is so authentic, passionate and grace-filled. This book is what the world needs to read/hear right now. Osheta constantly reminds the reader throughout the pages of her book how we are all created in God's image and that is message our hurting and greiving world needs to connect with right now. Each chapter ending with a breath prayer is so healing and is a beautiful way to journey through the process of becoming an anti-racist peacemaker.
This book is great tool for helping people start out or continue on their journey of understanding the effects of white supremacy and how to address it through the third-way of becoming a white peacemaker. It would also be a great tool to use for small groups and bible studies.
This book is such a gift and I hope millions if not billions of people will unwrap it and discover the truths and treasures within its pages.
This book is great tool for helping people start out or continue on their journey of understanding the effects of white supremacy and how to address it through the third-way of becoming a white peacemaker. It would also be a great tool to use for small groups and bible studies.
This book is such a gift and I hope millions if not billions of people will unwrap it and discover the truths and treasures within its pages.
May 18, 2021
In Dear White Peacemakers author Osheta Moore welcomes her readers into a compassionate, personal, and honest conversation about racism in the United States, and then invites White peacemakers to bring their whole, beloved selves to the much-needed work of dismantling white supremacy and pursuing justice and racial reconciliation.
Written with a pastor’s heart, Moore’s passion and compassion for justice and her belief in the belovedness of all people pours out through her words on every page. This book challenged and encouraged me and left me feeling seen, valued, and empowered. I wish I could press this book into the hands of every American Christian.
Thank you to Herald Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for review.
Written with a pastor’s heart, Moore’s passion and compassion for justice and her belief in the belovedness of all people pours out through her words on every page. This book challenged and encouraged me and left me feeling seen, valued, and empowered. I wish I could press this book into the hands of every American Christian.
Thank you to Herald Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for review.
April 25, 2021
I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Dear White Peacemaker. I must admit that as a Black Peacemaker I was eager to see what Osheta would share with our fellow peacemakers. I was pleasantly shocked to see that Osheta had in fact written a love letter to White Peacemakers that is not too heavy on truth or too heavy on grace. It’s the exact right mix of Grit & Grace! While reading Osheta’s words I was challenged to not only be a better peacekeeper in the area of anti-racism but as a believer in area of my life. Osheta put words to the feelings and thoughts I struggle to share. While this book is written to White Peacemakers it is truly a gift to Black Peacemakers as well.
March 31, 2021
Dear White Peacemakers is unlike any book that I have ever read. In the author's words, this book is a love letter to White people. That is true, however, reading this book is an exercise in humility in all of the best ways. Osheta Moore's writing is authentic, devastating, revealing, loving, firm, and with some real-life humor inserted from time to time that made me wish I could sit with her over a cup of coffee! I am changed by this book and committed to doing the work put before me in addressing systemic racism.
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